Last Tuesday, the 4th of February Darwin's Cafe at the Tofino Botantical Gardens hosted a fundraising dinner for the Maaqusiis Suns Men's Ahousaht basketball team. The dinner was a seafood feast that was created by renouned guest chef Nicholas Nutting (Executive Chef at Tofino's Wolf in the Fog) and Joel Nikiforuk.
In Prince Rupert this week, First Nation's villages from across British Columbia gather to support and cheer on their basketball teams in the annual All-Native Basketball Tournament. This event is the biggest all native basketball tournament in Canada, and is very inspirational as many people attend.
There are 54 teams with 4 divisions, 14 Men's, 14 Intermediate Boy's, 14 Senior Women, and 14 Men's Masters that compete.
For approximately 20 years, Harvey Robinson, and Tom Campbell of Ahousaht have coached the Maaqtusiis Suns.
Their mission is to work with young families to help them live healthy life styles through positive mentoring.
Harvey's wife Doris Robinson supports by fundraising to raise money for accommodation, meals, transportation, etc.
The team has much support from their families and friends, and we help them attend this event. They also help cook breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week for the team.
The evening was a great success, that saw members from many our of Clayoquot communities coming together to feast and celebrate sports and wish luck to the team.
Many thanks to the guests that came out, to the team members that helped serve, to Chief Lewis George and his family for his leadership and guidance, to Harvey Robinson and his sons for his donation of local seafood, to George Patterson and our Mayor Josie Osbourne for hosting the event, and finally to Nicholas and his team for their unparalleled culinary creativity. Good Luck Suns!